The Philadelphia Water Waterways Restoration Team (WRT) is a multi-crew force dedicated to removing large trash — cars, shopping carts, and other short dumped debris — from the 100 miles of stream systems that define Philadelphia’s neighborhoods. As a part of PW’s goal to naturally restore our streams while meeting Clean Water Act permit requirements, the crew also restores eroded streambanks and streambeds around outfall pipes and in tributaries. The team is focused on completion of in-stream restoration work that protects sewer infrastructure in the banks and beds of our streams, while using Natural Stream Channel Design to restore these streams to a habitat-supporting waterway and community amenity.

Working in partnership with Parks & Recreation and various Friends of the Parks groups, WRT seeks to maximize resources and thus the positive impact of these efforts on our communities. The WRT performs stream clean-up work in the city’s streams – Cobbs, Wissahickon, Tacony, Pennypack, and Poquessing creeks and their tributaries, as well as along the banks of the non-tidal Schuylkill River, and the Manayunk Canal.

TTF Watershed Corporate Steward

Infrastructure Solution Services

Infrastructure Solution Services is a design build company with over twenty years of experience solving the region’s stormwater challenges by meeting both Federal mandates and local environmental green initiatives. The company’s turn-key approach takes a project from initial inspection through to the completed job, including the guaranteed long term maintenance.

GARP provides stormwater grants to contractors, companies, or project aggregators that can build large-scale stormwater retrofit projects across multiple properties. Along with the Stormwater Management Incentives Program (SMIP) for non-residential property owners who want to construct stormwater project retrofits, these programs aim to stimulate investment in and utilization of stormwater best management practices, which will reduce stormwater pollution to Philadelphia’s sewers and surrounding waterways and improve our watersheds.

TTF Legacy Award

Keith Russell, Audubon Pennsylvania

An engaging environmental educator and expert birder, Keith Russell has led numerous walks over the past few years in Tacony Creek Park in partnership with TTF. Keith has been a birder since third grade. As Outreach Coordinator with Audubon Pennsylvania, his leadership and enthusiasm have been instrumental in helping us build a Tacony Creek bird constituency. Keith inspires young and old alike. He was the leading force in the development of our new Tacony Creek Park Bird Guide, which provides a list of the over 150 bird species that you can spot in the park!

We hope you’ll join with us to recognize these watershed heroes at our Milestones Award Ceremony & Reception on May 13 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at our home at the Globe Dye Works in Frankford. Information here.

Julie Slavet is TTF's Executive Director. She has over 20 years of experience in community affairs, program development, and personnel management. Julie earned a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Smith College and an M.S. in Public Affairs from the University of Massachusetts. Julie has served as an Advisor to the Jenkintown Community Alliance and a Director of the Montgomery County Democratic Women’s Leadership Initiative. Contact Julie at 215.844.8100 or julie@ttfwatershed.org.